South Carolina governor: State cannot provide support for Saturday game at USC

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina and the state government have been in communication about Saturday’s football game against Georgia.

In the latest update, Governor Nikki Haley said USC reached out and was informed not to expect help from the state.

“I will tell you what we have informed USC is we will not be able to give any state support for that game,” Haley said. “I can’t take troopers off the road to go put them at a football game. From that standpoint, if they do that, they would be working with the Richland County sheriff’s office to get that done.

“From our standpoint, we are just focused on the storm. We are not necessarily focused on the game. They did call and ask and we did say not to expect any state support in helping for that game.”

Earlier Thursday, executive associate athletic director Charles Bloom said he is confident the game will be played in Columbia and mentioned playing Sunday or Monday as possibilities. He put the chances as “very, very minimal” that it would be played elsewhere.

South Carolina canceled classes and closed campus for Wednesday, then expanded the decision through Thursday and Friday. Other sports schedules already have been altered, as volleyball and equestrian matches set for Friday against Georgia shifted. Volleyball has been rescheduled and will be played in Athens, Ga., instead. The Bulldogs will come to Columbia on Nov. 6 to complete a trade of home matches.

The equestrian match against Georgia was rescheduled it for 10 a.m. Sunday. USC baseball also has canceled its Friday and Saturday with scrimmages with Sunday undetermined.